BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati reaffirmed his opposition to resolving the dispute over the maritime border with Israel through unofficial means.

In a meeting on Monday with Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Mikati said, "Lebanon considers hat any action outside the diplomatic setting sought by the government to settle maritime border demarcation with Israel is unacceptable and exposes the country to unnecessary risks."

In response to Hezbollah's July 2 launch of three unarmed drones on a reconnaissance mission toward the Karish gas field in the eastern Mediterranean, which Israel believes is within its economic zone and Beirut contends is situated in disputed waters, the prime minister-designate made the comments.

The terrorist group, which is based in Lebanon, said that it sent the drones to show that the Shia movement has the "military and logistical capacity" to stop Israel from obtaining gas from the gas field. Mikati urged all parties to "display a spirit of tremendous national responsibility and adhere to the state's negotiation method" in his speech on Monday.

He also reiterated Lebanon's support for US Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein's initiatives to find a solution for Israel's maritime border demarcation that fully preserves his country's rights.

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